jmh
win or lose, we booze
Re: World Cup Day 1 - Brazil Waxes Croatia?
Thoughts from the game:
For a team described as "un-Brazil-like" due to being so solid defensively, Brazil sure did seem to have only a passing interest in defending. Thiago Silva is a world-class stay at home center back but if Dani Alves and Marcelo are going to defend only when absolutely necessary, then I think the center midfielders need to do more to support the defense, and if Oscar is the one of those three doing the most defending (he made 4 tackles, neither Luiz Gustavo nor Paulinho made any) then something is wrong. Maybe Fernandinho or Hernanes starts the next match?
If Hulk continues to be as invisible as he was during that match then he's going to have his change his nickname to another superhero. It was entirely justifiable for him to be the first one subbed off.
The penalty was soft. There was a tug on the shoulder but Fred sure did seem to go down easily.
I don't agree that Croatia were robbed of the equalizer; the Croatian player (Jelavic, I think?) went flying into Julio Cesar. I'd want that called every time if it were my goalkeeper out there.
Modric looked really good, and I'm not just talking about the fact that he doesn't have that stupid hair anymore. He and Olic and Perisic created a lot of chances and if Croatia play like that again, they should (knock on wood) cut Mexico to shreds.
If Bernard went by "Bernie" then he would surpass Fred as the funniest Brazilian soccer name. Someone should start a petition.
David Luiz kinda runs all over the place; he's got the speed to recover a lot of the time, but I think that could cost Brazil against better teams.
Speaking of things that could cost Brazil against better teams, Julio Cesar looks shaky. All three of his backups (the two on the squad and the standby) are over 30 and inexperienced at international level; do they have anybody good in the pipeline?
Thoughts from the game:
For a team described as "un-Brazil-like" due to being so solid defensively, Brazil sure did seem to have only a passing interest in defending. Thiago Silva is a world-class stay at home center back but if Dani Alves and Marcelo are going to defend only when absolutely necessary, then I think the center midfielders need to do more to support the defense, and if Oscar is the one of those three doing the most defending (he made 4 tackles, neither Luiz Gustavo nor Paulinho made any) then something is wrong. Maybe Fernandinho or Hernanes starts the next match?
If Hulk continues to be as invisible as he was during that match then he's going to have his change his nickname to another superhero. It was entirely justifiable for him to be the first one subbed off.
The penalty was soft. There was a tug on the shoulder but Fred sure did seem to go down easily.
I don't agree that Croatia were robbed of the equalizer; the Croatian player (Jelavic, I think?) went flying into Julio Cesar. I'd want that called every time if it were my goalkeeper out there.
Modric looked really good, and I'm not just talking about the fact that he doesn't have that stupid hair anymore. He and Olic and Perisic created a lot of chances and if Croatia play like that again, they should (knock on wood) cut Mexico to shreds.
If Bernard went by "Bernie" then he would surpass Fred as the funniest Brazilian soccer name. Someone should start a petition.
David Luiz kinda runs all over the place; he's got the speed to recover a lot of the time, but I think that could cost Brazil against better teams.
Speaking of things that could cost Brazil against better teams, Julio Cesar looks shaky. All three of his backups (the two on the squad and the standby) are over 30 and inexperienced at international level; do they have anybody good in the pipeline?